THE MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES OF THE LAVES-PHASE SYSTEM DY(CO1-XALX)(2)

Dy(Co1-xAlx)(2) alloys exhibit interesting magnetic properties because of the differing nature of the magnetism (localized and band) of thei r constituents. They crystallize in the Laves-phase MgCu2 crystal stru cture. Magnetic measurements were performed at temperatures down to 4. 2 K and in magnetic fields up to 15 T. The experimental results are co mpared with theoretical calculations based on the ab initio tight-bind ing version of the linear muffin-tin orbital method (TB-LMTO). Spin-po larized calculations were performed for experimental lattice constants obtained from X-ray measurements.